Dutch sprint ace Kirsten Wild held off Australian cycling rival Chloe Hosking for a tight win at the inaugural Race Melbourne.
Hosking was pleased with coming so close to Wild on a course that does not suit the Australian sprinter's strengths.
Kirsten WIld, centre, on the podium with Australian Chloe Hosking (left) and Germany's Lisa Brennauer on Thursday.Credit: Getty Images
It was Wild's third win this month after two stage wins and third place overall for the Cylance rider at the Adelaide Santos Women's Tour.
Predictably, Thursday's 63.6-kilometre race on the pancake-flat Albert Park F1 race circuit came down to a bunch sprint.
Wild and Hosking were initially unsure who had won.
"Chloe was coming really fast from the back ... we looked at each other and it was, 'Is it you? is it me?' " Wild said.
Wild said her strong form was particularly pleasing given they are a new line-up. "We have a good communication in the race and it really works," she said of their sprint train.
Likewise, Hosking noted her Ale Cipollini team had only one returning rider and the Australian was pleased with her early-season speed.
"We're definitely exceeding expectations ... this was never a target for the team," she said. "On a course like this, to get as close as we did to beating her, it's pretty good.
"I train to be good at the end of 140km, so to finish with Kirsten and be so close at the end, I am actually quite happy with that.
"Sometimes I wonder, 'Am I that fast?' and now I think I can confidently say, 'No, I am that fast.' "
Hosking and Wild will compete on Saturday at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, their last Australian race before heading overseas.
Hosking finished a strong fourth at Cadel Evans last year, but is circumspect about her chances after the disappointment of the October world road championships.
After starting the road race among the favourites, Hosking finished seventh.
"I've learnt to keep my cards close to my chest since worlds, so I'm just going to see how it goes," she said.
"The Orica-Scott girls are in super, super form – if I can survive, great."
While pleased with her form on Saturday, Hosking is also a cash-strapped women's pro cyclist, and she rued not making the top step of the podium.
"Now we have to split €2500 ($3554) of prize money instead of €8000 – in women's cycling, that's very important," she said.
AAP